Wimbledon helps boost Western and Southern ticket sales

Field to be announced next week for local tournament

The recently concluded Wimbledon Championships have spiked ticket sales for the Western and Southern Open.

Vince Cicero, director and chief operating officer for the Mason tennis tournament, said ticket sales jumped by 55 percent during the weekend as the Grand Slam event wrapped up.

"They're going online and placing their orders, so it's fun to look at it through the weekend and see their orders coming in while play is going on in London," Cicero said.

He said the local tournament brings in thousands of tennis fans from all 50 states and more than 20 countries.

"Two years ago when we became a combined event and had all the top men and all the top women here, we became one of only five locations outside of the Grand Slams where they all arrive, so along with Rome, Madrid, Indian Wells and Miami, everybody is coming to Cincinnati," Cicero said.

The tournament was first played in 1889 in Avondale, at the current site of Xavier University, Cicero said.

The Western and Southern Open has grown since the $23 million expansion of its facilities in recent years, and a record 179,000 fans attended last year's tournament.

"Where we are right now and pacing ahead, we're going to surpass that number," Cicero said.

He said the event will announce its biggest and best player field Monday, July 15.

The tournament will be played this year from Aug. 10-18.

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